WALESWALES

Ilona VavřičkováIlona Vavřičková

The Political Division The Political Division of of

WalesWales

CymruCymru the Welsh name for the Welsh name for

WalesWales

CardiffCardiff

the capital and the capital and largest city of largest city of

WalesWales

PopulationPopulation nearly 3 million nearly 3 million (2006)(2006)

Cardiff (0.31 million Cardiff (0.31 million inhabitants) inhabitants)

density:density: 140/km²  140/km² 

Ethnic groupsEthnic groups: : English, Scottish, English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Ulster, Irish, Welsh, Ulster, West Indian, Indian, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and otherPakistani, and other

TThe official he official flag of Walesflag of Walessince 1959since 1959

The Flag of Saint DavidThe Flag of Saint David

an alternative to the national flag

flown on St David's Day

The Coat of ArmsThe Coat of Arms of Wales of Wales

National Floral EmblemNational Floral Emblem

daffodil

leek

Administrative divisions of WalesAdministrative divisions of Wales

• 9 counties• 3 cities• 10 county boroughs

April 1, 1996

the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994

22 council areas („the principal areas of Wales“)

1. Blaenau Gwent CB 2. Bridgend (Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) CB 3. Caerphilly (Caerffili) CB 4. Cardiff (Caerdydd) C 5. Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin) 6. Ceredigion 7. Conwy CB 8. Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych) 9. Flintshire (Sir y Fflint) 10. Gwynedd 11. Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) 12. Merthyr Tydfil (Merthyr Tudful) CB 13. Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy) 14. Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Port Talbot) CB 15. Newport (Casnewydd) C 16. Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro) 17. Powys 18. Rhondda Cynon Taff (Rhondda Cynon Tâf) CB 19. Swansea (Abertawe) C 20. Torfaen (Tor-faen) CB 21. Vale of Glamorgan (Bro Morgannwg) CB 22. Wrexham (Wrecsam) CB

the Local Government Act 1888

the Local Government Act 1972

8 „preserved counties of Wales“

the Local Government Act 1994

22 „principal areas“

HistoryHistory

13 „traditional counties of Wales“

SubdivisionsSubdivisions     

below 22 council areas there are also community councils in some areas

the Queen appoints a Lord Lieutenant to represent her in the eight Preserved counties of Wales — which are combinations of council areas

the 13 traditional counties of Wales are also used as geographical areas

PoliticsPolitics

• the head of state in Wales is the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)

• executive power is derived by the Queen, and exercised by the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster, with some powers devolved to the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff

The National Assembly The National Assembly

there are 60 members of the Assembly, known as "Assembly Members (AM)"

the National Assembly has limited power

the National Assembly is not a sovereign authority, and the UK Parliament could, in theory, overrule or even abolish it at any time

first established in 1998 under the Government of Wales Act

the Welsh Labour party the Welsh Labour party

tthe Party of Wales he Party of Wales ((Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru))

the Conservative Party the Conservative Party

the Liberal Democrats the Liberal Democrats

Forward WalesForward Wales

Political partiesPolitical parties

the largest party elects the First Minister of Wales, who acts as the head of government

Rhodri Morgan

in the British House of Commons, Wales is represented by 40 MPs (out of a total of 646)

the largest party: the Welsh Labour party

the largest opposition party: Plaid Cymru, which favour Welsh independence

Cardiff BayCardiff Bay

Welsh Assembly Building

Welsh Assembly Building - opened by The Queen on St David's Day (March 1) 2006

Cities in WalesCities in WalesCity status in the United Kingdom is determined by „Letters patent“.

There are five cities in Wales:

• Bangor Bangor

• Cardiff (Caerdydd) Cardiff (Caerdydd)

• NewportNewport (Casnewydd) (Casnewydd)

• St David's (Tyddewi) St David's (Tyddewi)

• Swansea (Abertawe)Swansea (Abertawe)

Cardiff City HallCardiff City Hall

Official languagesOfficial languages

• Welsh Language ActWelsh Language Act

(1993)

Welsh has an equal status with English

WelshWelsh

EnglishEnglish

Percentage of Welsh speakers

WelshWelsh

it belongs to the branch of Celtic languages

21.7% of the population of Wales are Welsh

speakers

the teaching of Welsh is now compulsory in all

schools in Wales up to age 16

Bilingual road signBilingual road sign

Bore da Good morning

Prynhawn da Good afternoon

Noswaith dda Good evening

Sut mae? Hiya?

Sut dych chi?How are you?

(formal)

Iawn, diolchFine, thanks

(informal)

Hwyl fawr Good-bye

Useful Welsh Useful Welsh PPhraseshrases

MoneyMoney

the official full name: pound sterling

symbol: £

ISO currency code: GBP (Great Britain pound)

divided into 100 pence

the slang term "quid"

The Second Severn crossingThe Second Severn crossing

• 3.186 miles (5.128 km) • completed in 1996

• over the estuary of the River Severn between England and Wales